, 1887-05-29
KATIE'S ENGAGEMENT.

"You might nave knocked me down
with q feather, Charley" l said, 'when
Miss Kate asked me to accompany her
abroad"
at would require a pretty strong
feather" he replied "And what did
you sayf"
"of course 1 wanted your permission.
She quite understood that; and 1t Is
arranged that tomorrow I am to call at
the house and let her know"
ST you want to go, Lucy, gu by all
MEANS" said he, taking up the news
paper.
''It's not so much that, but you see we
should gain something for the winter.
The child wants clothes; I want a few
things myself, n your shirts, Charley,
are fraying out dreadfuily."
That's right bring me In and get
Lucy-a trihe Transparent, but quite the
right thing"
''Then I may go, Charleyf" 1 asked.
Certainly" he replied. 81 win try to
mnnag without you for q month";
l kissed him over the paper, and he
laughed. Indeed, / am not quite sure
that he didn't rather enjoy the prospect;
but l held my tongue, and next day made
my arrangement with Miss Katie, who
had asked ME TO accompany her into
Switzerland, where she was to stay awhile
with her n n sousins.
THANK you 30 much, Mrs. Farmer"
she said. Father would not have been
SO satisfied II you had not consented to go
with me. / hope Mr.. Farmer does not
mind much"
mot much, miss. When do we starti"
Next Monday" she replied; and that
day we quilted home, coming through
London to Dover, where we slept that
night.
1t was in the spring, 1 should nave told
you; and the passage vas a little rough;
the day was chilly too. 1t wasn't natural
that Miss Kate should travel unnoticed,
and before we reached Calais a gentle
man n his sister, q pleasant spoken
couple, were talking to her. They were
also going into our part Of the country
some place ending In ''berg''-but whether
Iceberg or Snowberg, or some other name,
I can't distinctly say think 1t vas
Zweiberg, or Two Mountain valley.
The young gentleman and his sister
were going in the same direction. Their
name was Neville. They had no seryant,
so it was well I was there, and waited on
Miss Neville, who was, 1 must say, liberal
In her notions; SO Charley's shirts were
soon paid for.
wv NlahCAtu 4uiCh1J CIOubut Jul Ou6
day, as we were waiting for n steamer to
carry US on from some place which l for
get to another that 1 can't exactly now
remember, l got a shock which nearly
turned me into the image of Lots wife.
Close to Miss Katie, unseen by her,
stood n desperate man l knew too we'll
Gideon Grasper! Yes, the man she had
refused-the man who had sworn to be
revenged-the INSCRIPTIONS Grasper him
self
He had disappeared from our village
after that wreck business, which no one
could rightly fathom, when Miss Katie
repulsed him. There was some talk-for
our folk are rare gossips-but no one OF
us, so far, had even seen him until now.
1 vas alone, bag in hand, watching her
as she stood on the little landing stage,
deep in thought, while Miss Neville
watched the steamer, and Mr.. Neville
was hurrying down with the big bag
after me.
1 wa In a terrible fright for fear Miss
Katie should see Grasper. He kept aside
and watched; he meant mischief; yet in
some respects be was changed; his hair
and beard were Iona, his dress was almost
G~ermanlike, and he was smoking q china
pipe. But his eyes were as cruel and
vindictive as ever; and l shuddered as l
saw him fasten them on Miss Katie.
Fourteen months had made a deal of diff
ference in his appearance; | doubt II he
had altered In himself.
Up came the little steamer, and we all
went on board. Mr.. Neville attached
himself to Miss Katie, and / could see him
whispering to her; and she laughed, but
blushed all the same, n said, Just
fancy such n thingri a favorite saying OF
hers. Gideon Grasper was forward, and
81 ,-Wgl 800 ---u A.
Giue, when he came behind me and whis-
pered:
Are they engaged, eht Tell me,
quick!"
How dare you address me like thatS''
I asked, turning on him in English plain
his face.
You're not the queen of England, nor
ytt the empress OF Russia, so / suppose j
{ y talk to a country woman. My dear
ra Farmer, you are looking younger
an cver-ten years Mt least"
'Nr. Gideon Grasper, y | said, 81 can't
!r,uTn the compliment, and / require
one of yours. We are strangers since
IA wrecked that bark"
''iinId your tonguei' he Kissed, ''or II
a.iil v bad for you and your baby faced
'.rl youder. I supPCse you know h is
engaged TO mef"
10 your | exclaimed. sob, heaven
forgive YOU such a story Why, she hates
you!'
Does shet Then she'll have to change
her mind have her promise, in writing,
more than eighteen months old; and II
was never retracted. / can claim her
Or
"Or whatf"I asked, trembling ut his
eyes us they searched me through-"or
whail''
"Ov she'll not live to marry any one
WI - ---l..- -iL !: